Cricket selectors go for youth

THE Namibian cricket selectors have named a young team for the upcoming ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland and the Africa Premier League 20/20 World Cup qualifier in Uganda.

Three national Under 19 players, Steven Baard, Kobus Brandt and Gerhard Erasmus have been called up for the ICC Cup encounter while Baard and another Under 19 player Zhivago Groenewald have been included for the Uganda tournament.National coach Johan Rudolph however said that it was unlikely that the youngsters will play, as they have been included mainly to get experience ahead of the Under 19 World Cup qualifier which also takes place in Ireland from 28 July to 9 August.’We want them to get experience of the conditions in Ireland where they will be competing in the Under 19 World Cup qualifier later in July, but it is unlikely that they will play,’ he said.Namibia will play their opening match in the 2011/12 ICC Intercontinental Cup competition against Ireland in Stormont from 28 June to 1 July, to be followed by two 50-over-a-side matches on July 4 and 5.From here they will go to Uganda where they will compete against the hosts Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana for a place at the 2012 20/20 World Cup. Kenya, however already have One Day International status and will just provide extra competition for the other nations.The Namibian team to face Ireland:Raymond van Schoor, Ewald Steenkamp, Pikkie ya France, Craig Williams, Gerrie Snyman, Steven Baard, Nicolas Scholtz, LP van der Westhuizen, Louis Klazinga, Christi Viljoen, Kobus Brandt, Gerhard Erasmus, Norbert Manyande, Gerhard Rudolph.The Namibian team for the African Premier League: Raymond van Schoor, Pikkie ya France, Craig Williams, Sarel Burger, Gerrie Snyman, Steven Baard, Nicolas Scholtz, LP van der Westhuizen, Christi Viljoen, Louis Klazinga, Kola Burger, Zhivago Groenewald, Norbert Manyande, Gerhard Rudolph. – namibiasport.com.na